Shukry Bishara, the Palestinian
finance minister and a former executive at Arab Bank Plc, told
jurors at a U.S. trial that the bank made payments in the
Palestinian territories to provide humanitarian relief, not
compensate families of suicide bombers.

Bishara, the ex-chief banking officer for the Jordanian
lender, testified today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York,
in a case brought on behalf of about 300 U.S. citizens who were
injured or killed in attacks in and near Israel, or were
relatives of victims. The plaintiffs claim the bank helped Hamas
by providing financial services and want to hold the institution
responsible for the attacks.